Survey of Cleveland's Jewish Population Fifty and Older

Study Dates:
1985. Two reports on Jewish households with a member at least age 50. First report summarizes demographics, while second summarizes Jewish identification variables.

Population Estimates:
No overall Jewish population estimate produced; 1981 estimate used as the basis of all estimates of the number of Jewish households with a member age 50 or over.

Key Findings:

Report notes that analysis of 1981 data showed that 90% of all Cleveland Jews ages 50-74 and 70% of those 75 and older were on the Federation List - although those not on the Federation list tended to be more alienated from Jewish life, more likely to be intermarried, poorer than those on the List since "until a few years ago" the List was only kept for fund-raising purposes.

Returned questionnaires also were less likely to be completed by Russian-speaking households, even though almost all were on the 1985 List.

Report estimates a total of 12,200 Jews ages 50-74 and 4,800 ages 75 and over.

First Report on Cleveland's Jewish Population ages 50 and over focused on place of birth, mobility and housing, health status (42% of men 65 and over report some heart disease),location of grown children who had moved away from Cleveland, preferences for Jewish services sponsorship, as well as other basic demographic variables: employment status, income, education, health insurance, etc.

Data on reactions to possible planning campus living arrangements for older Jews is also included in the "Jewish Population" report.

Second report focuses on "Jewish Identity" variables, using the same interviews. Congregational affiliation, denominational preference, and intermarriage issues are addressed.

Random sample telephone calls from Federation List to identify Jewish HH with a member age 50 or older. Questionnaires mailed after phone conversation.

Sample Notes:
Two reports issued on 1985 study data: Report #5 in the population research series focuses on "Cleveland's Jewish Population Fifty and Older." Report #6 focused on the "Jewish Identity" of this population.

No data file.
No Sample disposition included in reports.
Data does not seem to have been weighted for the report.